Our website uses cookies to improve your browsing experience. If you’d like to learn more about the cookies we set or how to manage what cookies your browser accepts, you can find out on our cookie information page.

The IoS delivers the ASA’s courses and is a member organisation. Whether you are a teacher, coach, employer or club you will find everything you need to know about qualifications or educating your workforce.

Are New Year’s Resolutions set to sink or swim?

17 January 2014

The ASA are encouraging the millions of adults who are struggling to stick to their New Year fitness and health plans to consider switching to swimming to stay on track.

That’s following new research that shows while 80% of people pledged to healthy living, eating, and exercise goals for 2014, more than 40% are likely to have given up by the end of the month, with a quarter likely to have slipped by this weekend.

Of those who embarked on a new exercise plan, less than 30% considered taking up swimming, despite the fact that swimming is seen by fitness experts as a good way to ease into a new regime, as well as being a cheap and easy way to get fit.

While almost 90% surveyed agree that swimming is a good weight loss exercise and way to get fit, one in seven people can’t remember the last time they went swimming, while almost a third haven’t been for a swim in the last year.

In fact, only one in 10 adults have been swimming in the last month according to the study which has been released as the ASA encourages adults to join its British Gas Swimfit programme.

Swimfit provides motivational and easy to follow swimming sessions which you can do at any time or as part of a class with an instructor. It aims to encourage existing swimmers to take a fresh look at the way they swim, and encourages non swimmers to get back into the pool.

Olympic open water swimmer Keri-anne Payne and Swimfit Activator David Tatler are backing the Swimfit campaign and are encouraging the nation to start swimming as their way to get and stay fit in 2014.

Keri-anne Payne commented, “The great thing about starting your new regime in January is this is the hardest it’s going to get – it’s cold and miserable, and you are most likely suffering from the post-festive lull. But if you start with even just one or two swims a week which is more manageable to maintain, you are more likely to keep up the good work.

“What I enjoy most is, swimming and training with other people, which is why I think Swimfit is so great. You feel the pain together, but at the same time you share the exciting buzz you get out of a great work out.

“The group sessions provide swimmers the confidence, motivation and support they need to get the most out of their session, and most importantly keep getting back into the pool. Plus, water is 800 times denser than air so you’re more likely to achieve the results you want a lot quicker than any other work out.

“The research revealed that one in seven people can’t remember the last time they went for a swim which is quite staggering for me to hear as a swimmer. Not only is it a great way to get fit, swimming also controls your cholesterol level, reduces your blood pressure and it increases your energy. It also can help you de-stress and relax – perfect for banishing the January blues.”

David Tatler, Swimfit Activator commented, “Swimfit is all about encouraging swimmers to get results. It might be weight loss, to tone, to improve technique or just to become fitter and stronger.

“The great thing about Swimfit is every session is different. This not only helps maintain motivation, but it also speeds up the results – Swimfit encourages you to use different strokes, different speeds, different techniques all within one session which not only increases your fat burn during your work out, but your body will continue burning calories hours after your session.

“You can start your Swimfit session at different levels, so whether you want to get back into the pool after years away, aspire to swim lengths or want to add structure to your time in the pool, it provides everything you need to achieve your goals.”

For more information on Swimfit, and to find your nearest pool click here